A new school year has commenced here in Australia. Schools, nationwide, are facing enormous challenges, confronting the headwinds of this continuing pandemic. No doubt young learners are keen to find themselves in the social setting of the classroom once more, so we must hope that all goes well for school communities everywhere. Fingers crossed.
Bravo to teachers world-wide, who continue to display incredible professionalism and commitment in the face of the continuing need to adapt their delivery of vital education.
Here are some fresh, new school poems, a small gift of sorts. Some poetry to launch into the start of the year. A year wrapped in hope for lighter, brighter times.
We Start
Out, Fresh And Shiny
The sun comes up
On the first day
Of a new school year
We walk through the school
gate
School shoes tight, shiny and new
Uniform fresh and clean
Our faces full of smiles
And kissed by the summer.
Friends greet us
Stories swapped
The corridors gleam and smell
of polish
The teachers look revived and
full of bounce
Classroom open like welcoming
arms
New books are opened
And we write
Oh so carefully
With our out of practice
hands
Our shaky words nestling
On sparkling new pages
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow,
- just another school day, really.
©Alan
j Wright
Zero
No beginning
No end
No tail to descend
Like a hole in a piece of Swiss Cheese
You could have been eight
But you lacked a tight belt
No one’s lucky number it has to be said
You unfortunately have amounted to nothing
But I like the way you stand
Between positive
And negative
So well-rounded
Not quite a hero
Simply known as zero.
©Alan j Wright
Teacher’s Names
My mum had a teacher,
Called Mr Small
She reckons he wasn’t.
My Dad had a teacher called Ms Pretty,
He reckons she was.
My sister had a teacher called Mr Sing,
She reckons he didn’t.
My little brother had a teacher called Mr Smelly Pants,
-So he claims.
We
all reckon he’s dreaming.
©Alan j Wright
It is once again Poetry Friday, and this week our host is teacher and writer, Elisabeth Norton at Unexpected Intersections. Please visit Elisabeth's site to find out about her affection for Acrostic poetry, plus more from other poets, worldwide.
Happy new (school) year to the kids in your part of the world, Alan. Your poems are a lovely back-to-school gift. I especially like your "Zero" poem - from Swiss cheese to a beltless eight, zero amounts to a lot! (Molly was on the same zero wavelength this week...)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your remarks Bridget. I shall check out Molly's 'zero' poem. Thanks for the alert!
DeleteI think it's a grand thing, that first day of school, know it isn't for every child, but hope they can make it work better this year. I love your poems, Alan. A favorite line is "And kissed by the summer". It's true, cheeks come in with a little glow. Zero is terrific, & I see that Bridget told you about Molly also writing about 0. The Teacher's names has to be one to read aloud to a class. They will laugh and laugh! Happy beginnings!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda, for your feedback on my poems. 'Kissed by the summer' made me smile when it emerged on the line. It felt immediately at home. Fingers crossed for a happy beginning.
DeleteHa! I'm trying to decide which poem is my favorite...hard to decide. I love "Zero" for it's cleverness...but it's really hard to top "Mr. Smelly Pants." I love the first day of school and all the positive possibility it holds. For me, we have just past our second quarter and half-way point. The "feel" of school is oh, so much different. It's like opening a window and feeling the fresh breeze to read these poems. Well done!
ReplyDeleteA pleasing dilemma from my perspective, Linda. How we currently view the school year no doubt depends on where we stand in that continuum. I'm pleased you enjoyed the fresh breeze.
DeleteSo fun to compare/contrast your zero poem and Molly's! Happy New School Year!
ReplyDeleteQuite unexpectedly, these zero poems have had a joyful intersecting Mary Lee. There was zero chance of predicting that happening...
DeleteThanks for your recognition of the challenges of teachers. One of them is that right now, no day IS like any other--you never know what's about to hit! I think your last one is the one that kids will find most fun, Mr. Silly-Words.
ReplyDeleteThe challenge is all too apparent for those of us who have walked similar paths, Heidi. You are correct regarding the uncertainty and volatility of these demanding times in our schools. My thoughts go out to all who are currently working quite heroically in our schools on a daily basis.
DeleteThese are wonderful poems, Alan! I particularly love these lines from the poem about zero ...
ReplyDelete"But I like the way you stand
Between positive
And negative
So well-rounded
Not quite a hero
Simply known as zero."
It pulls me beyond mere math, makes me think about life - as all good poems do!
Thanks for sharing these today and for being a part of the Poetry Friday party.
Thanks, Elisabeth. You raise an interesting connection with matters pertaining to life. It shall no doubt linger in my thoughts moving forward.
DeleteA fresh, shiny school year — you've captured so many aspects of it, Alan, from the tight new shoes to the wide array of memorable teachers. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I guess our schools present such a broad array of possibilities when it comes to pondering poetic possibilities. Your observations are a timely reminder to continue to scan that terrain in search of writing treasure.
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